The Book of Mormon and Freedom

TF Stern had this posted on his page. A friend of his put it on facebook (I have done the same) it is well worth listening to and remember what it is we should be fighting for.

.... Feeling a bit down in the dumps....

Where is that line from?

It has suited me the past few days, whether hormones, adrenal fatigue or a regression of the depression I have no idea. I have been sick since well before memorial day. I got over the initial cold fairly well, with a touch of bronchitis, unfortunately I had a problem with my ear. I was finally put on antibiotics but it did nothing and a few days later I was put on a cold medicine and nasal spray. My ear didn't hurt, but it was so filled with fluid that I couldn't hear well, and even my beloved music sounded out of tune. I mean, out of tune... like listening to beginning band or orchestra play for the first time out of tune. By the end of each day I was so fatigued I'm sure my brain was processing double information even though it didn't always sound like that. It is getting better, but I am so tired from not sleeping (the medicine) and the stress my body has taking I feel like I need a dark closet or blanket to wrap up in and hide for several days. Of course that is not an option, but I hate feeling so on edge and so volitile. Bleh.

A small update on life

I have not posted much lately. I have been tad under the weather. Not horrible but enough that I get overstimulated very easy, and so I have tried to keep some of my activities at a low level.

Yesterday was my birthday and I had many happy wishes from family, friends and neighbors. I "woke up" (already awake from scripture reading) to Kendra bringing me her birthday present for me. Inside a little paper bag that had held Easter treats from school, was a little picture she had made for Easter. She gave that to me as her present. how sweet of her to think of it. I had her write her name on it, and she also wrote my name on it.

I had a nice lunch date with Michael to Tucano's, and afterward we wandered around Williams-Sonoma, and Barnes and Noble for a little while until he needed to return to work. Upon arriving home Natasha had cleaned up the house nicely for me as a birthday present. Very sweet of her, as well as willing to take care of Kendra and Abbie so we could go on our date.

I also had another trip to see the doctor after the antibiotic seemed to not make a difference with the ear condition that has been driving me crazy. He as put me on some musinexD extra strength and nasonex to try to help breakdown and thin out anything that may be blocking the Eustachian tubes in my ears that could be trapping fluid in the ear. It seems to be helping a bit since the pressure is not so bad after I take the medicine. I truly hope to see a significant difference over the next couple of days.

I hope Natasha puts up pictures of Abbie with my parents little pet chicken, Cluck, Cluck or Chickie. (Kendra called the little bird Cluck, Cluck, but mom and dad call her Chickie.) Abbie absolutely loves the little bird and always wants to hold her. Now she thinks she can hold any bird she sees. I have watched her run up to robins and then cries because she can't hold the bird.

Michael had a good time with the kids at the Park one of the days I was really ill. I wanted to go on the picnic but I really did feel horrible for a few days.

I hope you all had a nice memorial day, remembering those who have passed on in this life, those that served your family and your country. Our freedom is a precious thing and we must never loose sight of it.

When memories aren't the same

There are some wonderful pros and cons to the world of facebook. It gives me a chance to get to know casual acquaintances better as well as a fun way to keep in touch with closer friends. I have discovered though that it destroys my view of friendships long lost. I am discovering that I am a selfish being that really has had little impact on others in my life. I don't remember every person I have known over the years, but there are some friendships that I never thought the other person would forget me. Not that I was ever deluded into thinking that I was the center of the other's world but the impact that these friendships, both female and male, had such deep impact and influence on how I perceived myself and self worth that I never imagined that I would become "forgettable" to the other party.

It is a sad thing for me. When I can so vividly recall conversations, activities we did together, and what I thought was a mutual affection that was as if we were brother or sisters. I never expected a response of "I don't know how I know you, can you tell me how?" It is a let down a shock to discover that I did not have the same kind of impact in their life that they did in mine.

I wonder, how is it I can attribute something so wonderful and memorable but to them it is forgettable and I am another person that walked in and out of their life in moment. It is both humbling and discouraging at the same time. All I was and am a blip on the radar screen.

The first was a girl I knew in Junior high. A sweet kind girl and we did many things together until she moved. We kept a small amount of contact and I even managed to attend her wedding reception. I never, ever thought she would forget me, because I never forgot her. Strange how that happens.

The other was a young man I knew my first year of College. He was waiting for his future wife to come home from her mission. He lived in the dorm and we met at church since we attended the same ward. Often I would play the piano in church when the organist wasn't there, and sometimes he would come in when I practiced and would sing with me. We often talked about how much he missed his girlfriend. I liked to think that we could talk like that because I, for some strange reason, did not have a crush on him.
He was a protector of mine. He helped me with a stalker so many times I could not say. He was a life saver for me that year. He gave me a confidence I did not know I had. He was truly my brother. The day I first attended church after the summer break his then fiance (she was back from his mission was there) and he saw me sitting in the back. He was speaking in church that day and he made a beeline afterwards to introduce her to me. It was a wonderful moment to know that I was important enough for him to introduce me to the most important person in his life.
Our relationship rightfully changed at that point, as was only right and proper. I honestly never expected to be forgotten though. I always cherished our friendship over the years. He was one of those people that taught me what to look for in a spouse. He treated me so well, that who ever I married had to live up to that treatment. All this time I thought we were there for each other, but I guess I am wrong, and he was sent to help me.

It is strange how that happens, and I'm sure I have done it to others. Still it is a bit of a shock and in many ways a disappointment. More than anything it causes me to reflect on my life and am I really doing what I can to help those around me and do I really make a difference.
I wonder?

Here is a video clip taken at Kendra's Preschool graduation. There are 6 short (30 second clips of 6 songs.) Enjoy, more pictures will be shared tomorrow.

Mother's Day Gifts!

What did I get for Mother's day? I thought I would share!

What could this BE?

It is Little Kendra's Hand of Course!

This is a Cast Iron Pot that my mother gave me, not just for mother's day but for my birthday as well. Isn't it pretty with its porcelain finish in yellow, and white on the inside. Corn on the top with a pat of butter too! It almost looks good enough to eat, I guess I will use it to make tasty things instead. Yum, Yum.
Noelie got one too, hers is green with asparagus tied with a ribbon and a bow for the handle. It is very cute too. Mom has a red one with tomatoes carved on the lid and the leaves make the handle. I looked on QVC and the orange one is just as cute with carrots and a carrot for the handle. Not only will it make delicious food but a pretty presentation too! Thanks mom I love it.

Michael gave me some stuff I wanted from Bath and Body works, (no picture) I also have a beautiful pendant he gave me (let me buy) that I absolutely love and wear whenever I can. I know mother's day isn't about the gifts but I sure love these this year. Then I loved mother's day this year, maybe it is that I am finally feeling better and more myself these days, that the sun seem brighter. I wish all mom's could feel the way I did that day.

Star Trek

Caution spoilers, if you haven't seen the movie don't read!






I can admit it. I am a Star Trek junkie, I won't go so far as to say I'm Trekkie. Michael and I went to see the new movie on Friday and I admit I was left a bit disconcerted, unsure of how I felt about it. I enjoyed it, I didn't hate it, there were aspects I didn't like at all, and some that I very much liked.

I knew I wanted to see it again, so I went with my sisters Cindy-lou and Snobaybe and my Aunt Delene. I liked it much better the 2nd time, and what I really like, I liked even more, and what I didn't like I still didn't like.

As far as what I like, well, I love Dr. McCoy and Mr. Scott. They honestly make the movie for me. They both play their rolls so well with out copying the originals. They have shades of the original cast but manage to show their individual talents very well. They are truly a pleasure to watch and very much the comic relief in the show without being ridiculous. I could watch them both over and over.

I have fallen in love with the music as usual. I didn't pay attention to it as much the first time I saw it. I know there were moments I liked but I couldn't remember them, but at the second viewing I feel in love with parts of the score.

I did not like the relationship between Spock and Uhura. I have a hard time buying it for some strange reason. Perhaps it is just me but for me it doesn't work. I thought it was a bit over kill and it would have made more sense to me if they had created a strong bond of friendship between the two of the them than a romance between teacher and student.

I look forward to getting the CD and watching this on clearplay. It is too bad that the one scene I don't care to see is also a scene with some significance to the story. Figures.

As far as warnings, it deserves its rating, there is sexual content, language and lots of violence. It is different from other Star Trek film and movies but keeps the sense of Fun that the original cast seemed to convey.

Kendra's visit with the Doctor

Kendra had her doctor's appointment for her age 5/kindergarten check up. Of course it was not fun for her. I didn't warn her about getting her finger pricked because I forgot they would check her hematocrit. That of course made her cry big tears, and then the indignity of getting three immunizations really made her cry. Poor little one. She did get out of having 4 since she had a good case of the chicken Pox last year. When I talked to the Dr. about it he said he hadn't heard of someone getting a double case like she did, so he figures she should have a good immune response to the virus.

After all was said and done, and the nurses let her pick what toy she wanted, she choose a glow in the dark bouncy ball!

She weighs 39 pounds, and is 42 inches tall. This puts her in the 45% for weight and 39% for height. She is growing up so fast, I can hardly believe it. He said she was advanced for her age on several things and seemed pretty please with her progress.

Yesterday I was doing our daily spelling quiz, and she managed to spell several _at words without any hesitation. That is the first that I have not had to help her with several of those words. She has had Cat down for sometime but always seemed to need some coaching with words that rhyme. This time she spelled, cat, bat, hat, mat, rat, and only needed help with sat. She can also spell her name, Abbie's name, mom, dad, sun and we.